Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02606155 2007-10-10
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALTERNATIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH AN IM
CONTACT USING ADDRESS BOOK VERBS
Field
The present application relates generally to the user
interface for an instant messaging (IM) messaging application
and more particularly for a system and method for adding address
book verbs to the IM application menus.
Background
[0002] Communication devices such as personal computers,
wireless mobile telephones, personal data assistants, etc. often
provide data communication abilities to users. One currently
popular form of such communication is Instant Messaging or IM
facilitated by an IM application having a graphical user
interface (GUI) whereby two or more users of different
communication devices can engage in a conversational data
communication exchange.
[0003] To permit IM message exchange, a user may invite
another to agree to receive IM messages and be included in the
user's list of IM contacts (sometimes called an IM friend or
buddy in view of the agreement to be a potential IM message
recipient). The availability of the user or particular IM
contacts for conversations may be maintained in accordance with
respective presence information. To begin an IM conversation, a
user selects a buddy represented by a IM contact list entry of a
list of contacts and inputs a message. Additional IM contacts
may be invited to engage in a group message, as desired. While
IM messaging was originally directed to text, newer protocols
support file transports and voice over data communications.
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[0004]
In addition to conducting an IM conversation with a
buddy, an IM user may want to communicate with the buddy using
another available communication ability provided by the
communication device such as phone, email, text messaging, etc.
Contact information such as phone numbers, email addresses, etc.
for these communication abilities for the buddy may have been
previously entered and stored in an address book application by
the user. Finding and invoking the buddy's address book contact
information for the particular communication ability may be time
consuming and difficult.
The user typically must switch
applications and leave the IM application interface. Exiting and
invoking the address book interface or other communication
ability interface may be inconvenient and time consuming,
requiring a number of user inputs.
[0005]
Thus it is desirable to provide an IM interface to
other communication abilities that can be used to contact the
other user.
Brief description of the drawings
[0006]
In order that the subject matter may be readily
understood, embodiments are illustrated by way of examples in
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0007]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates pertinent
components of an example wireless communication network and a
mobile station which communicates within this network;
[0008]
Fig. 2 is a more detailed diagram of the mobile
station which may communicate within the wireless communication
network;
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[0009] Figs. 3A and 3B are representative GUI display views
of an address book contact record;
[0010] Fig. 4 is a representative GUI display view of an
embodiment of an IM application showing an IM contact list;
[0011] Fig. 5 is a representative GUI display view of an
embodiment of an IM application showing an IM conversation
interface;
[0012] Fig. 6 is a representative GUI display view, in
accordance with the respective embodiment of Fig. 4, showing a
menu interface adapted to use the system and method for adding
address book verbs to the IM application menus;
[0013] Fig. 7 is a representative GUI display view, in
accordance with the respective embodiment of Fig. 5, showing a
menu interface adapted to use the system and method for adding
address book verbs to the IM application menus;
[0014] Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing the operations for
using the system and method for adding address book verbs to the
IM application menus with an IM application in accordance with
an embodiment;
[0015] Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing the operations for
finding the selected IM contact's address book information and
preparing the associated address book verbs, in accordance with
the embodiment of Fig. 8; and
[0016] Fig 10 is a block diagram of a portion of memory
showing components of an IM application using the system and
method for adding address book verbs to IM application menus in
accordance with an embodiment.
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Detailed Description
[0017]
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that the teachings herein are applicable to messages received
via wired or wireless communication and though a wireless
communication device and network including wireless
communication capabilities are discussed in the examples, no
limitations should be imposed.
[0018]
A system and method for alternatively communicating
with an Instant Messaging (IM) contact from an IM application
using address book verbs is provided. In an IM application, a
context sensitive menu of options is presented to permit a user
to invoke alternative communication capabilities (e.g. email,
voice, SMS, etc.) of the communication device with the IM
contact.
Address book contact information stored separately
from the IM application is pulled for the IM contact and, for
available alternative contact information, respective actions
are presented as options (e.g. 'Call contact', 'Email contact',
'SMS contact', etc.). If particular contact information (e.g.
phone number is not available) associated alternative
communication actions are not presented. Selection of an action
invokes the associated alternative application with the
appropriate contact information from the IM application.
[0019]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system
100 which includes a mobile station 102 which communicates
through a wireless communication network 104.
Mobile station
102 preferably includes a visual display 112, a keyboard 114,
and perhaps one or more auxiliary user interfaces (UI) 116, each
of which is coupled to a controller 106. Controller 106 is also
coupled to radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 108 and an
antenna 110.
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[0020]
Typically, controller 106 is embodied as a central
processing unit (CPU) which runs operating system software in a
memory component (not shown).
Controller 106 will normally
control overall operation of mobile station 102, whereas signal
processing operations associated with communication functions
are typically performed in RF transceiver circuitry 108.
Controller 106 interfaces with device display 112 to display
received information, stored information, user inputs, and the
like.
Keyboard 114, which may be a telephone type keypad or
full alphanumeric keyboard, is normally provided for entering
data for storage in mobile station 102, information for
transmission to network 104, a telephone number to place a
telephone call, commands to be executed on mobile station 102,
and possibly other or different user inputs.
K021]
Mobile station 102 sends communication signals to and
receives communication signals from network 104 over a wireless
link via antenna 110.
RF transceiver circuitry 108 performs
functions similar to those of a radio network (RN) 128,
including for example modulation/demodulation and possibly
encoding/decoding and encryption/decryption.
It is also
contemplated that RF transceiver circuitry 108 may perform
certain functions in addition to those performed by RN 128. It
will be apparent to those skilled in art that RF transceiver
circuitry 108 will be adapted to particular wireless network or
networks in which mobile station 102 is intended to operate.
[0022]
Mobile station 102 includes a battery interface 122
for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 124. Battery
124 provides electrical power to electrical circuitry in mobile
station 102, and battery interface 122 provides for a mechanical
and electrical connection for battery 124.
Battery interface
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122 is coupled to a regulator 126 which regulates power to the
device.
When mobile station 102 is fully operational, an RF
transmitter of RF transceiver circuitry 108 is typically turned
on only when it is sending to network, and is otherwise turned
off to conserve resources.
Similarly, an RF receiver of RF
transceiver circuitry 108 is typically periodically turned off
to conserve power until it is needed to receive signals or
information (if at all) during designated time periods.
[0023]
Mobile station 102 operates using a memory module 120,
such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or a Removable User
Identity Module (R-UIM), which is connected to or inserted in
mobile station 102 at an interface 118. As an alternative to a
SIM or an R-UIM, mobile station 102 may operate based on
configuration data programmed by a service provider into an
internal memory which is a non-volatile memory. Mobile station
102 may consist of a single unit, such as a data communication
device, a cellular telephone, a multiple-function communication
device with data and voice communication capabilities, a
personal digital assistant (PDA) enabled for wireless
communication, or a computer incorporating an internal modem.
Alternatively, mobile station 102 may be a multiple-module unit
comprising a plurality of separate components, including but in
no way limited to a computer or other device connected to a
wireless modem.
In particular, for example, in the mobile
station block diagram of Fig. 1, RF transceiver circuitry 108
and antenna 110 may be implemented as a radio modem unit that
may be inserted into a port on a laptop computer. In this case,
the laptop computer would include display 112, keyboard 114, and
one or more auxiliary UIs 116, and controller 106 may remain
within the radio modem unit that communicates with the
computer's CPU or be embodied as the computer's CPU. It is also
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contemplated that a computer or other equipment not normally
capable of wireless communication may be adapted to connect to
and effectively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry 108
and antenna 110 of a single-unit device such as one of those
described above.
Such a mobile station 102 may have a more
particular implementation as described later in relation to
mobile station 202 of Fig. 2.
[0024]
Mobile station 102 communicates in and through
wireless communication network 104.
In the embodiment of Fig.
1, wireless network 104 is a Third Generation (3G) supported
network based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
technologies. In particular, wireless network 104 is a CDMA2000
network which includes fixed network components coupled as shown
in Fig. 1. Wireless network 104 of the CDMA2000-type includes a
Radio Network (RN) 128, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 130, a
Signalling System 7 (SS7) network 140, a Home Location
Register/Authentication Center (HLR/AC) 138, a Packet Data
Serving Node (PDSN) 132, an IP network 134, and a Remote
Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server 136.
SS7
network 140 is communicatively coupled to a network 142 (such as
a Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN), whereas IP network
is communicatively coupled to a network 144 (such as the
Internet). Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that other networks and associated topologies including GPRS, E-
GPRS and UMTS radio networks, among many others, may be employed
with the teachings herein.
[0025]
During operation, mobile station 102 communicates with
RN 128 which performs functions such as call-setup, call
processing, and mobility management.
RN 128 includes a
plurality of base station transceiver systems that provide
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wireless network coverage for a particular coverage area
commonly referred to as a "cell".
A given base station
transceiver system of RN 128, such as the one shown in Fig. 1,
transmits communication signals to and receives communication
signals from mobile stations within its cell. The base station
transceiver system normally performs such functions as
modulation and possibly encoding and/or encryption of signals to
be transmitted to the mobile station in accordance with
particular, usually predetermined, communication protocols and
parameters, under control of its controller.
The base station
transceiver system similarly demodulates and possibly decodes
and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals received
from mobile station 102 within its cell.
Communication
protocols and parameters may vary between different networks.
For example, one network may employ a different modulation
scheme and operate at different frequencies than other networks.
The underlying services may also differ based on its particular
protocol revision.
[0026]
The wireless link shown in communication system 100 of
Fig. 1 represents one or more different channels, typically
different radio frequency (RF) channels, and associated
protocols used between wireless network 104 and mobile station
102.
An RF channel is a limited resource that must be
conserved, typically due to limits in overall bandwidth and a
limited battery power of mobile station 102. Those skilled in
art will appreciate that a wireless network in actual practice
may include hundreds of cells depending upon desired overall
expanse of network coverage. All pertinent components may be
connected by multiple switches and routers (not shown),
controlled by multiple network controllers.
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[0027]
For all mobile stations 102 registered with a network
operator, permanent data (such as mobile station 102 user's
profile) as well as temporary data (such as mobile station's 102
current location) are stored in a HLR/AC 138.
In case of a
voice call to mobile station 102, HLR/AC 138 is queried to
determine the current location of mobile station 102. A Visitor
Location Register (VLR) of MSC 130 is responsible for a group of
location areas and stores the data of those mobile stations that
are currently in its area of responsibility.
This includes
parts of the permanent mobile station data that have been
transmitted from HLR/AC 138 to the VLR for faster access.
However, the VLR of MSC 130 may also assign and store local
data, such as temporary identifications. Mobile station 102 is
also authenticated on system access by HLR/AC 138. In order to
provide packet data services to mobile station 102 in a
CDMA2000-based network, RN 128 communicates with PDSN 132. PDSN
132 provides access to the Internet 144 (or intranets, Wireless
Application Protocol (WAP) servers, etc.) through IP network
134. PDSN 132 also provides foreign agent (FA) functionality in
mobile IP networks as well as packet transport for virtual
private networking.
PDSN 132 has a range of IP addresses and
performs IP address management, session maintenance, and
optional caching. RADIUS server 136 is responsible for
performing functions related to authentication, authorization,
and accounting (AAA) of packet data services, and may be
referred to as an AAA server.
[0028]
Wireless communication network 104 also includes a
Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) server 137 which may be coupled
to IP network 134.
PoC server 137 operates to facilitate PoC
individual and group communication sessions between mobile
stations within network 104. A conventional PoC communication
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session involves a session connection between end users of
mobile stations, referred to as session "participants", who
communicate one at a time in a half-duplex manner much like
conventional walkie-talkies or two-way radios.
[0029]
Those skilled in art will appreciate that wireless
network 104 may be connected to other systems, possibly
including other networks, not explicitly shown in Fig. 1.
A
network will normally be transmitting at very least some sort of
paging and system information on an ongoing basis, even if there
is no actual packet data exchanged. Although the network
consists of many parts, these parts all work together to result
in certain behaviours at the wireless link.
[0030]
Fig. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a preferred
mobile station 202. Mobile station 202 is preferably a two-way
communication device having at least voice and advanced data
communication capabilities, including the capability to
communicate with other computer systems.
Depending on the
functionality provided by mobile station 202, it may be referred
to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a cellular
telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet
appliance, or a data communication device (with or without
telephony capabilities).
Mobile station 202 may communicate
with any one of a plurality of base station transceiver systems
200 within its geographic coverage area.
[0031]
Mobile station 202 will normally incorporate a
communication subsystem 211, which includes a receiver 212, a
transmitter 214, and associated components, such as one or more
(preferably embedded or internal) antenna elements 216 and 218,
local oscillators (L0s) 213, and a processing module such as a
digital signal processor (DSP) 220. Communication subsystem 211
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is analogous to RF transceiver circuitry 108 and antenna 110
shown in Fig. 1. As will be apparent to those skilled in field
of communications, particular design of communication subsystem
211 depends on the communication network in which mobile station
202 is intended to operate.
[0032]
Mobile station 202 may send and receive communication
signals over the network after required network registration or
activation procedures have been completed. Signals received by
antenna 216 through the network are input to receiver 212, which
may perform such common receiver functions as signal
amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel
selection, and like, and in example shown in Fig. 2, analog-to-
digital (A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of a received signal
allows more complex communication functions such as demodulation
and decoding to be performed in DSP 220. In a similar manner,
signals to be transmitted are processed, including modulation
and encoding, for example, by DSP 220.
These DSP-processed
signals are input to transmitter 214 for digital-to-analog (D/A)
conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification
and transmission over communication network via antenna 218.
DSP 220 not only processes communication signals, but also
provides for receiver and transmitter control. For example, the
gains applied to communication signals in receiver 212 and
transmitter 214 may be adaptively controlled through automatic
gain control algorithms implemented in DSP 220.
[0033]
Network access is associated with a subscriber or user
of mobile station 202, and therefore mobile station 202 requires
a memory module 262, such as a Subscriber Identity Module or
"SIM" card or a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM), to be
inserted in or connected to an interface 264 of mobile station
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202 in order to operate in the network. Alternatively, memory
module 262 may be a non-volatile memory which is programmed with
configuration data by a service provider so that mobile station
202 may operate in the network. Since mobile station 202 is a
mobile battery-powered device, it also includes a battery
interface 254 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries
256.
Such a battery 256 provides electrical power to most if
not all electrical circuitry in mobile station 202, and battery
interface 254 provides for a mechanical and electrical
connection for it.
The battery interface 254 is coupled to a
regulator (not shown in Fig. 2) which provides power V+ to all
of the circuitry.
[0034]
Mobile station 202 includes a microprocessor 238
(which is one implementation of controller 106 of Fig. 1) which
controls overall operation of mobile station 202. This control
includes network selection techniques of the present
application.
Communication functions, including at least data
and voice communications, are performed through communication
subsystem 211.
Microprocessor 238 also interacts with
additional device subsystems such as a display 222, a flash
memory 224, a random access memory (RAM) 226, auxiliary
input/output (I/O) subsystems 228, a serial port 230, a keyboard
232, a speaker 234, a microphone 236, a short-range
communications subsystem 240, and any other device subsystems
generally designated at 242.
Some of the subsystems shown in
Fig. 2 perform communication-related functions, whereas other
subsystems may provide "resident" or on-device functions.
Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard 232 and display 222,
for example, may be used for both communication-related
functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over
a communication network, and device-resident functions such as a
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calculator or task list.
Operating system software used by
microprocessor 238 is preferably stored in a persistent store
such as flash memory 224, which may alternatively be a read-only
memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown).
Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system,
specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be
temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 226.
[0035]
Microprocessor 238, in addition to its operating
system functions, preferably enables execution of software
applications on mobile station 202.
A predetermined set of
applications which control basic device operations, including at
least data and voice communication applications, will normally
be installed on mobile station 202 during its manufacture.
A
preferred application that may be loaded onto mobile station 202
may be a personal information manager (PIM) application having
the ability to organize and manage data items relating to user
such as, but not limited to, e-mail, calendar events, voice
mails, appointments, and task items.
Naturally, one or more
memory stores are available on mobile station 202 and SIM 262 to
facilitate storage of PIM data items and other information.
[0036]
The PIM application preferably has the ability to send
and receive data items via the wireless network. In a preferred
embodiment, PIM data items are seamlessly integrated,
synchronized, and updated via the wireless network, with the
mobile station user's corresponding data items stored and/or
associated with a host computer system thereby creating a
mirrored host computer on mobile station 202 with respect to
such items.
This is especially advantageous where the host
computer system is the mobile station user's office computer
system. Additional applications may also be loaded onto mobile
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station 202 through network, an auxiliary I/O subsystem 228,
serial port 230, short-range communications subsystem 240, or
any other suitable subsystem 242, and installed by a user in RAM
226 or preferably a non-volatile store (not shown) for execution
by microprocessor 238.
Such flexibility in application
installation increases the functionality of mobile station 202
and may provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-
related functions, or both.
For example, secure communication
applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other
such financial transactions to be performed using mobile station
202.
[0037]
In a data communication mode, a received signal such
as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download will
be processed by communication subsystem 211 and input to
microprocessor 238. Microprocessor 238 will preferably further
process the signal for output to display 222 or alternatively to
auxiliary I/O device 228. A user of mobile station 202 may also
compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, using
keyboard 232 in conjunction with display 222 and possibly
auxiliary I/O device 228. Keyboard 232 is preferably a complete
alphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type keypad.
These
composed items may be transmitted over a communication network
through communication subsystem 211.
[0038]
For voice communications, the overall operation of
mobile station 202 is substantially similar, except that the
received signals would be output to speaker 234 and signals for
transmission would be generated by microphone 236. Alternative
voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording
subsystem, may also be implemented on mobile station 202.
Although voice or audio signal output is preferably accomplished
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primarily through speaker 234, display 222 may also be used to
provide an indication of the identity of a calling party,
duration of a voice call, or other voice call related
information, as some examples.
[0039]
Serial port 230 in Fig. 2 is normally implemented in a
personal digital assistant (PDA)-type communication device for
which synchronization with a user's desktop computer is a
desirable, albeit optional, component. Serial port 230 enables
a user to set preferences through an external device or software
application and extends the capabilities of mobile station 202
by providing for information or software downloads to mobile
station 202 other than through a wireless communication network.
The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load an
encryption key onto mobile station 202 through a direct and thus
reliable and trusted connection to thereby provide secure device
communication.
[0040]
Short-range communications subsystem 240 of Fig. 2 is
an additional optional component which provides for
communication between mobile station 202 and different systems
or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For
example, subsystem 240 may include an infrared device and
associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth(TM)
communication module to provide for communication with
similarly-enabled systems and devices.
Bluetooth(TM) is a
registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
[0041]
Mobile station 202 may be adapted to provide instant
messaging communications via programming instructions and data
stored or otherwise available to the device 202 such as by way
of an IM application. IM provides a conversational dialog
typically involving the exchange of primarily text-based
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messages between a user of device 202 and at least one other
user of another device (not shown) adapted for IM communication.
As persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, an IM
system or "presence and instant messaging system" allows users
to subscribe to each other and be notified of changes in state
(e.g. availability for instant message communication) and for
users to send each other short instant messages. IM is discussed
in further detail in "RFC 2778 - A Model for Presence and
Instant Messaging", M. Day, J. Rosenberg, and H. Sugano,
February 2000, maintained and provided online by the Internet
Society at www.ietf.org.. As such, adapted mobile station 202
provides a user agent for IM communication in an IM system.
[0042] Figure 10 illustrates components 1000, typically
comprising program instructions and data that may be stored to
flash memory 224 and/or RAM 226, for adapting station 202.
Components 1000 comprise, broadly, graphical user interface
(GUI) 1002, IM application 1004, IM contact list 1006, IM
contact list entries for current conversations 1008, address
book application 1010, address book contact data store 1011,
current IM conversation messages 1014, and IM contextual menu
buffers 1016. IM application component 1004 provides presence
and IM communication functions for the user (e.g. a user having
the name of "Sarah") of the mobile station 202.
[0043] Often, IM applications are provided as standalone
applications separate from other communication applications on
device 202 such as separately from email applications or phone
applications, etc. The IM application maintains a contact list
(often with the assistance of a remote IM server (not shown))
that is separate from an address book of contact information
that may be otherwise available to device 202 via an address
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book interface and which address book is typically integrated
with the device's email and/or phone application. As such, IM
contact information is not usually stored in the address book
and most address book contact information is not maintained in
the contact list.
[0044] In order to invite another user to be an IM contact of
the user of device 202, the other user's email address is often
supplied to the IM application by the IM user of device 202 to
send the invitation. However, another data message address, such
as a PIN, could also be used instead. Thus the IM contact list
can store a non-IM address for an IM contact.
[0045] Advantageously, as described further below, the IM
application and address book may be adapted so that the IM
application can obtain address book information for an IM
contact with which the IM application can then present context
sensitive options for a user to invoke other communication
abilities with the IM contact.
[0046] GUI 1002 provides support for a contact list oriented
interface for controlling aspects of the presence and IM
functions using list of IM contacts 1006. Additional IM contact
list entries may include entries for current conversations 1008.
Other IM contact list entries may include IM group entries for
organizing individual IM contacts, and pending or unavailable IM
contacts in accordance with presence information (not shown in
Fig. 10).
[0047] Address book application 1010 manages address book
contact information. Address book application 1010 usually
provides user access to contact data store 1011 to update or
maintain such information and provides API access to email or
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other communication applications to obtain contact information
with which to respectively communicate with the contact. Contact
data store 1011 stores the contact records 1012. Typically, a
contact record may contain contact information such as a
contacts name, title and company, email addresses, phone numbers
(e.g. one or more for home, work, fax, pager, etc.) mailing
addresses, PIN (i.e. a personal identification number for a
user's mobile station within a particular service provider
network), etc. Some service provider's permit data messaging
using PIN addressing.
[0048] Address book application 1010 provides an interface
that permits other applications to retrieve information from
contact data store 1011. Contact data store 1011 may employ
various storage schemes (e.g. plain text or binary data) for
contact records 1012. Data compression may also be applied to
contact records stored in the contact data store.
[0049] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that IM Application 1004 may, in some embodiments, directly
access the contact data store 1011 in order to decrease the
search time or to avoid interacting with the address book
application 1010 among other reasons obvious in the art. When
there is direct access to the contact data store 1011,
precautions may have to be taken to prevent multiple
applications from simultaneously accessing and corrupting the
contact data store.
[0050] In accordance with the present matter, contextual
menus 1016 may be created by the system and method for adding
address book verbs to the IM application menus. As such, the GUI
1002 may use the contextual menu containing the user selected IM
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contact's relevant address book verbs as part of the IM
application menus.
[0051] As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in
the art, it is sometimes difficult to make bright-line
distinctions between components such as, GUI, IM application and
contextual menu components 1002, 1004 and 1016 or address book
application 1010 and contact data store 1011. As well, it is
understood that the components 1000 interface with other such
components (not shown) on or for mobile station 202 such as
operating system, communication sub-system, PIM components, etc.
[0052] Fig. 3A illustrates a representative view 300 of a
address book contact information screen provided by a address
book GUI of address book application 1010. View 300 includes a
title portion 302 showing the contact's name and presents
contact information such as email address 304, work phone number
306, home phone number 308, mobile phone number 310 and a home
mailing address 312. It will be understood that 304, 306, 308,
310, and 312 are examples of contact information and contact
records 1012 may include other types of contact information. In
the present example, the contact information for "Charles Dodge"
comprises work and mobile phone numbers and blank entries for
email and home phone number and home address.
[0053] Fig. 3B illustrates a second representative view 320,
similar to view 300, of a contact information screen for
"Richard Samson". View 320 comprises an email address 324,
mobile phone number 330, home address 332 and blank entries for
work phone number 326 and home phone number 328.
[0054] Fig. 4 illustrates a representative view 400 of an IM
screen provided by a GUI 1002 for an IM application 1004. View
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400 includes a title portion 402 showing "Sarah's Contact List"
and presents a contact list 404 with contact list entries 410,
and GUI focus 406. View 400 of Sarah's Contact List may be
traversed by a user by moving a focus 406 about the view to
interact with various elements of the GUI such as the individual
contact list entries 410. Focus 406 may be indicated in various
ways such as by reverse video mode, etc. Traversal or other
navigation may be facilitated by input devices such as arrow
keys, trackwheel, trackball, pointing device, etc. Once a
particular element is selected by a user of the mobile station
202, particular command options may be invoked. Options may be
presented via one or more menus or invoked through predefined
keystrokes etc. common in the art. Entries in the contact list
404 may be navigated such as by moving the focus 406 up and down
the screen. Specific contacts may be selected to invoke a
contextual GUI menu. In this example, contact list entry "Chuck"
408 has been selected by the user with focus 406 and when
activated (whether by a menu interface or by clicking an enter
key for example) invokes a view (e.g. 600 of Fig. 6) of GUI 1002
for a contextual menu with address book verbs added.
[0055]
Fig. 5 illustrates a representative IM view 500 of a
current conversation 510 with contact "King Rich" and comprises
a title portion 502 for indicating the contact and a message-
history portion 504 for showing an exchange of messages. A
message-composition portion 506 with a cursor 508 is also
provided with which to compose IM messages to the contact. In
accordance with this embodiment, the user may invoke (whether by
a menu interface or by clicking a menu key for example) a view
(e.g. 700 of Fig. 7) of GUI 1002 for a contextual menu with
address book verbs added.
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CA 02606155 2007-10-10
[0056]
Fig. 6 illustrates a view 600 of a menu invocation
manner for invoking an alternate communication ability from the
IM contact list GUI 1002 showing the IM contact list 404 of Fig.
4 as an example. View 600 shows a menu 603 comprising a list of
user options including a contextual menu portion 604, and a
portion for other menu options 602, the details of which options
602 are not shown. Context menu portion 604, comprising one or
more address book verbs for invoking alternative communications
with the IM contact, need not be shown at the end of the options
list. However, these options are preferably grouped for ease of
understanding and location in the list.
A focus 612 may be
moved to navigate the options list in menu 603. In the present
example, alternate communication abilities for IM contact
"Chuck" comprise placing a phone call 606, sending a Short
Message Service (SMS) text message 608 and sending a Multimedia
Message Service (MMS) message 610 based on the associated
address book information located for the IM contact "Chuck".
[0057]
Contextual menu 604 is invoked by moving the focus 406
to designate the contact, in this example, "Chuck" 412. Menu
options 606, 608, 610 in the contextual menu 604 may be
navigated such as by moving the focus 612 up and down the
screen. Menu options 606, 608 and 610 are generated from the
associated contact information 304 to 310 for the IM contact 312
using the system and method for adding address book verbs to the
IM application menus described further herein below (see Figs. 8
and 9). Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that other menu options 602 may contain entries generated by the
GUI 1002 or IM application 1004 for other actions relevant to
control of the GUI or IM contact list 404 (e.g. 'Start
Conversation' 'Add a Contact...', 'Contact Info', etc.).
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Mk 02606155 2007-10-10
[0058] Generally, it is possible to associate an action verb
or address book verb that represents a communication ability
with an associated contact information entry, e.g. 304 to 312.
As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art,
communication devices such as a mobile phone may support
multiple communication abilities and multiple action verbs may
be associated with each ability. For example, contact
information such as a mobile phone number can be associated with
the action or address book verbs "Call", "SMS Text", and "NMS".
[0059] In this example, menu option "Call Charles" 606
consists of an address book verb "Call" which is associated with
one or more phone numbers in the contact information (e.g. 306
and 310) and the IM contact's first name "Charles" from 302.
Menu option "SMS Text Charles" 608 and "MMS Charles" 610
consists of the address book verbs "SMS Text" and "MMS" which is
associated with the mobile phone number contact information 310
and the IM contacts first name "Charles" from 302. Contact
information entries 304 and 308 are empty and do not generate a
corresponding entry in the contextual menu 602.
[0060] Fig. 7 illustrates a view 700 of a menu invocation
manner for invoking an alternate communication ability from the
conversation GUI 1002 using the current IM conversation of Fig.
as an example. View 700 includes a menu 701 having a
contextual menu portion 705, other menu options 702, focus 703,
GUI navigational element 714 and in this example alternate
communication abilities for IM contact "King Rich" consisting of
sending an email 706, placing a phone call 708, sending a SMS
text message 710 and sending a MMS message 712.
[0061] Navigational element 714 indicates that additional
contextual menu entries may appear off screen below. Menu
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Mk 02606155 2007-10-10
options 706, 708, 710 and 712 are generated from the associated
address book contact information 324, 330 and 332 for the IM
contact 322 using the system and method for adding address book
verbs to the IM application menus describe below (see Figs. 8
and 9). Identification of the IM contact "King Rich" 332 is
implicit because the IM conversation 510 is between "Sarah" and
"King Rich". Other menu options 702 may contain entries
generated by the GUI 1002 or IM application 1004 for other
actions relevant to control of the GUI or particular IM
conversation. In this example, menu options 706, 708, 710 and
712 are generated as per the method described above for 606, 608
and 610 except that the contact's first name is "Richard" 322.
Contact information entries 326 and 328 are empty and do not
generate a corresponding entry in the contextual menu 704.
[0062] Fig. 8 illustrates operation 800 of IM application
1004 for a system and method for adding address book verbs to
the IM application menus, for example, to enable a convenient
interface to switch to an alternate available communication
ability with an IM contact.
[0063] Operations 800 provide a general overview of the
actions required for adding address book verbs to the IM
application menus. In the example of Fig. 8, the operations 800
represent steps for a user to invoke a contextual menu
containing the relevant address book verbs from within the IM
application. The contextual menu may be invoked from the IM
contact list (view 400) or from an IM conversation (view 500).
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the IM
contact may have to perform corresponding actions to accept the
alternate incoming communication.
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[0064] At step 802, the user is presented with a contact list
view (e.g. view 400) by GUI 1002 upon starting the IM
application 1004. Operations 800 in response to certain pre-
requisite user input such as menu driven commands or pre-
determined keystrokes, etc. (step 804) may branch to perform
respective operations. In the simplified view, there is shown
step 806 for selecting a particular IM contact from the contact
list 1006 and step 808 for starting an IM conversation with an
IM contact selected from the contact list 1006.
[0065] From the IM contact information, the initial email or
other address used for the buddy invitation or, possibly, the
contact's name is available to the IM application 1004 through
user selection of the contact (step 806) or from the IM
conversation window with the IM contact (step 808). In response
to user input invoking the display of the contextual menu (step
810) the associated IM contact information (e.g. email address)
can be used to find an address book contact record 1012 in the
contact data store 1011 to prepare the address book verbs
required (step 812). Step 812 is further described as operations
900 in Fig. 9. In one embodiment, GUI 1002 will use the address
book verbs prepared by IM application 1004 (step 812) in the
display of the contextual menu (step 814). In another
embodiment, GUI 1002 will use the address book verbs prepared by
the address book application 1010 in the display of the
contextual menu. The user may use the contextual menu interface
to select another communication ability as represented by the
address book verb (step 816). GUI 1002 will invoke the selected
address book verb's associated action (step 818). Persons of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further
operations may be performed when invoking a communication
ability. For example, though not illustrated, if 'Email
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"contact" is invoked, the associated email application is
invoked to present an email composition interface for the user.
It may be necessary to select among more than one stored email
address in the address book for the contact so that the
recipient "To:" addressee can be populated with the desired
email address of the contact. The email is then composed and
sent by the user of device 202. Similar operations my apply for
'Call "contact". While the alternative communication
operations are performed, IM application 1004 may continue to
operate in the background. Though not illustrated in Fig. 8,
persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that once
these alternative communication operations are finished,
operations of IM application 1004 may return to the foreground
automatically.
[0066] Fig. 9 illustrates operations 900 of IM application
1002 and address book application 1010 for finding and preparing
the selected IM contact's address book verb information for
display (step 812) from available address book contact
information. Operations 900 provide a general overview of step
812.
[0067] In one embodiment, an API for the address book
application 1010 is provided to the IM application to pull
information, invoking a search of the contact data store 1011
for the contact record 1012 associated with the selected IM
contact (step 902). The particular address book contact record
1012 is then examined to determine which contact information
entries are available. The respective associated information is
provided to the IM application to create the context sensitive
menu portion (e.g. 604 or 705). At step 904 it is determined
which address book verbs are to be used(step 904). Some address
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CA 02606155 2007-10-10
book contact information (e.g. a phone number) will provide
multiple communication abilities (e.g. phone and SMS) that
require multiple address book verbs. At step 906, text for the
contextual menu 1016 is generated from mapping each required
contact information entry to the appropriate address book verb
(i.e. action). Contextual menu text with the address book verbs
is then passed to the GUI 1002 (step 908). In one embodiment,
the IM application 1004 performs the steps 902, 904, 906 and 908
as described. Persons of ordinary skill in the art appreciate
that different criteria may be used in determining what contact
information is relevant, for example, whether the entry is
completed or if the communication method is currently available.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that
there may not be a bright-line distinction between steps 904 and
906 and that the steps may be combined and performed together.
[0068] Various storage schemes (e.g. linked lists) and memory
allocation schemes for current IM conversations 1008, current
conversation messages 1014 and contextual menus 1016 may be
employed. Particular contextual menus 1016 may be linked to the
GUI 1002 via pointers or other known techniques for associating
one structure with another.
[0069] While discussed with reference to a handheld mobile
device such as a smart PDA or smart phone, IM applications may
be implemented on other computing devices such as personal
computers (laptops, desktops), workstations and the like
configured for network communications. IM applications and IM
games are commercially available (e.g. AIM m from AOL, Yahoo!
Messenger, MSN Messengerm, etc.) for many platforms such as PCs
with various Windows or Windows compatible operating systems
with sufficient memory and video capabilities. Additional
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software requirements may include an Internet browser and plug-
ins and support for Java (e.g. JVM or plug-in support) as well
as an available Internet connection.
[0070] Advantageously, alternative data
communication
capabilities other than IM using the same IM application can be
invoked as well as voice communications from the IM application
interface. Such reduces keystrokes or other user input and takes
advantage of address book contact information that can be
centrally maintained for use by different applications.
[0071] The above-described embodiments are intended to be
examples only. Those of skill in the art may effect alterations,
modifications and variations to the particular embodiments
without departing from the scope of the application. The subject
matter described herein in the recited claims intends to cover
and embrace all suitable changes in technology.
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